John Cooke (footballer, born 1942) explained

John Cooke
Fullname:Edward John Cooke
Birth Date:18 March 1942
Birth Place:Birdwell, South Yorkshire, England
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Port Vale
Years1:1960–1964
Clubs1:Port Vale
Caps1:7
Goals1:0
Years2:1964–1971
Clubs2:Macclesfield Town
Caps2:208
Goals2:0
Clubs3:Altrincham
Clubs4:Chorley
Clubs5:Morecambe
Totalcaps:215
Totalgoals:0

Edward John Cooke (born 18 March 1942) is an English former football goalkeeper who was a member of non-League Macclesfield Town's highly successful team of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He previously played in the Football League for Port Vale and later represented Altrincham, Chorley and Morecambe.

Career

Cooke passed through the Port Vale youth team to sign professional forms under manager Norman Low in June 1960.[1] He was only ever utilized as an emergency keeper when Ken Hancock was injured, and after just seven Third Division appearances in almost four years he was given a free transfer away from Vale Park in May 1964 by manager Freddie Steele.[1]

He was taken to Macclesfield Town by manager Albert Leake, a former half-back at Port Vale.[2] He held his place in the reserves before he made the first-team goalkeeping position his own from the 1965–66 season.[2] From then on Macclesfield went on to win the Cheshire County League in 1967–68, the Northern Premier League in 1968–69 and 1969–70; and also lifted the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1970, the Cheshire Senior Cup in 1969, and the Cheshire League Challenge Cup in 1967.[2] Cooke was also the goalkeeper for Macclesfield's Third Round FA Cup tie with Bobby Robson's Fulham at Craven Cottage on 27 January 1968.[2]

He went on to be signed by Altrincham as cover for Willie Mailey.[3] He later played for Chorley and Morecambe. After retiring, he ran a plastering and construction business before becoming contracts manager for Shimizu Europe Limited.[2]

Career statistics

Source:

ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale1960–61Third Division40000040
1961–62Third Division10000010
1962–63Third Division20000020
Total70000070
Macclesfield Town1964–65[4] Cheshire County League50000050
1965–66[5] Cheshire County League2200050270
1966–67[6] Cheshire County League3506070480
1967–68[7] Cheshire County League40090120610
1968–69[8] Northern Premier League35020170540
1969–70[9] Northern Premier League36030220610
1970–71[10] Northern Premier League35010220580
Total20802108503140
Career total21502108503210

Honours

Macclesfield Town

1967–68

1968–69 and 1969–70

1969

1970

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kent, Jeff. Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. 66. 1996. 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Web site: Profile. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 31 March 2015.
  3. Web site: Altrincham FC . www.altrinchamfc.co.uk . 22 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Stats. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 12 July 2016.
  5. Web site: Stats. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 12 July 2016.
  6. Web site: Stats. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 12 July 2016.
  7. Web site: Stats. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 12 July 2016.
  8. Web site: Stats. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 12 July 2016.
  9. Web site: Stats. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 12 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Stats. silkmenarchives.org.uk. 12 July 2016.